Chain-fastener



J. M. WATKINS AND F. ANDERSON.

CHAIN FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1919.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

atliolwe'q UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

JOHN M. WATKINS AND FRED ANDERSON, OF MONTROSE, COLORADO.

CHAIN -FASTENER.

Application filed May 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN M. WATKINS and FRED ANDERSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Montrose, in the county of Montrose and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Chain-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved fastener for. connecting the end links of a chain and is particularly adapted for fastening the terminals of the side chains of non-skid tire attachments. The invention has for its object to provide a fastener consisting essentially of a hook for uniting the chain terminals and equipped with a guard or keeper to be releasably locked in operative position by a preferred type of pin and effectively preventing accidental displacement of the chain links engaged with the fastener.

With these and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds the invention comprises the novel features of construction accompanied by elements and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described in the following specification and set forth with particularity in the claim appended hereto.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved fastener,

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof, showing the guard in open position,

Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the fastener, and,

Fig. 4 represents a transverse sectional View through the fastener in the plane of the locking pin supporting ears.

Referring to the drawing in detail, where in similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views the numeral 5 indicates the elongated body of the fastener which is provided at one terminal with a bifurcation defining supporting ears 6 which are enlarged laterally of the body 5 and are apertured to ac commodate a pivot pin 7. The opposite terminal of the body is provided with an in wardly turned beak 8 spaced an adequate distance from the main portion of the body to accommodate a link and the beak is-provided with a square terminal 9.

A keeper bar or laterally of the body 5 and is provided with an angular terminal 11 arranged between the ears 6 and pivotally attached to the body Specification of Letters Patent.

guard 10 is arranged Patented Aug". Serial No. 294,618.

by the pin 'T. The pivoted guard 10 is also provided with a square terminal 12 movable over the square. terminal of the beak 8 and engageable with the portion of the body 5 underlying the beak terminal and spanning the space between said body and beak so as to prevent displacement of a link engaged with the beak. The angular terminal of the guard maintains the latter in such spar-ed relation from the adjacent terminal of the body 5 to afford sufficient space for the chain link at the terminal of the chain opposite that which is engaged with the beak 8 and thus prevent binding of the link between the members 5 and 10. The portion of the body 5 adjacent the beak S is provided with parallel ears l3 spaced an adequate distance apart to accommodate the guard 10 and to form a guide and retainer therefor. The terminals of the ears are apertured as indi cated at 14 to receive a pin 15 engaged behind the pivoted guard 10 and preventing withdrawal of the latter from between the cars.

In use, the link at one terminal of the chain is preferably permanently engaged between the body and guard members 5 and 10 and against the angular terminal 11 of the guard member and when applying the opposite terminal chain link to the beak 8 the guard 10 is swung outwardly as suggested in Fig. 2; The guard member is subsequently returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to obstruct the throat of the hook beak 8 and prevent accidental displacement of the chain link therefrom. The guard is subsequently locked in adjusted position by passing a cotter pin or similar fastener 15 through the alined apertures 14: of the ears 13 thus affording an effective and conveniently releasable lock maintaining the guard in closed position.

.What we claim is:

A connecting link for chains comprising a body having a beak at one end with its terminal squared, the other end thereof being bifurcated and the furcations provided with a pair of laterally extending apertured ears on the same side of said body as said beak, having another pair of laterally spaced apertured ears extending in the same direction as said first mentioned pair at a point adjacent the beak but spaced therefrom, a guardhaving a iacewise extending rightangular connecting and spacing finger at one end fitting between and pivoted to the end ears of said body member to hold said pivoted guard end spaced laterally from said body, said guard overlying the body with its free end squared and lying in close prox iniity to the end of said beak and of a thickness slightly greater than the space between said body and beak to insure closing of the beak when the free end of the guard rests on said body, said guard lying between said 10 apertured securing ears when in operative position, and a fastener extending through said ears outside said guard to secure the parts in operative position and provide separated link engaging loops at the ends of the member.

In witness whereof, we afli our signatures hereto.

JOHN M. WATKINS. FRED ANDERSON. 

